Jeremy Miles MS, Minister for Education and Welsh Language
I am today publishing new guidance for schools and education settings: Celebrate and Participate: education guidance to support Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children and young people
This guidance will support schools and education practitioners to improve the experiences in education of children and young people from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. It has been co-produced with learners and key stakeholders including community representatives, local authorities and education services.
The guidance includes details of the different challenges and barriers to learning identified by children, young people and their families from the various communities, and sets out effective practice examples of steps to address these barriers from across Wales.
For too long, children and young people from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities across Wales have faced challenges including bullying, discrimination and racism, and a lack of awareness and understanding of their different cultures and historic experiences. These barriers in education settings can lead to learners disengaging from education or leaving school completely, which has a significant impact on their ability to successfully pursue their aspirations and achieve their goals.
Driven by the Curriculum for Wales and the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, we are embedding anti-racism into our education system and driving equity in education, so that every child and young person feels valued within their education setting and ready to learn. This new guidance will support schools and education settings across Wales to achieve this outcome.